Wet separator



Nov. 10, 1959 B. A. PALM 2,912,107

WET SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 19, 1956' 4-2 CQNCENTRATES Dmcuaaee mmvrozz. BERNHARD A.PALM

United States Patent WET SEPARATOR Bernhard A. Palm, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Dings Magnetic Separator (30., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 19, 1956, Serial No. 629,357

"5 Claims. (Cl. 209-232) the angular span of the magnetic field within its extremities with its highest level below the level of the gangue outlet, positioning the coarse tail outlet in such field near such feed inlet, and providing a connecting passage from.

said coarse tail outlet to said gangue outlet so that fine tails may be further subjected to said magnetic field. One advantage of this arrangement is that the feed including the coarse tails is not subjected to any extensive travel within the magnetic field before allowing the nonmagnetic coarse tailings to drop out of such field. This cuts down wear on confining plates and speeds up disposal of the heavy non-magnetics to increase the efliciency of the magnetic field in separating out the magnetics. Another advantage is that the feed in order to reach the gangue discharge must pass through the coarse tails outlet. After the feed passes through the coarse tails outlet in order to reach the fine tails gangue outlet such feed (without the coarse tails) must come within the magnetic field and thus again be treated forremoval of magnetic material. It is also desirable to introduce fresh or wash water into the magnetic field at the concentrates discharge end and cause it to pass through the coarse tails outlet and connecting passageto the gangue outlet. This washes the concentrates on the carrier and moves fine tailings, including such fine magnetics as have not yet been picked up, back into the magnetic field for additional treatment before discharge.

A magnetic separator embodying this invention is shown in simple form in the accompanying drawing in which the figure is a diagrammatic vertical section of so much of the device as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

As is standard practice in this art, a hollow drum of non-magnetic material is rotatably mounted on a supported shaft 12. A bank of electro-magnets 14 is adjustably mounted Within the drum on such shaft and provides a magnetic field having an angular span of substantially 105. The drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by a suitable source of power so that magnetic materials brought within the influence of the magnet field will be carried from the area of entry to the right or discharge end of such field.

The feed consisting of a slurry or pulp of mixed particles of magnetic and non-magnetic material is continuously transmitted from a supply hopper 16 by a duct 18 to a feed inlet 20, the angular scope of which is approximately 20. The feed inlet 20 is within the influence of the magnetic field and positioned within its left-hand extremity. The highest level of the feed inlet, defined by the end of a wall 22, is below the hydrostatic level of a fine tails gangue outlet 24 of approximately angu- "(only'one shown).

lar scope defined by the end of a wall 26 and the end of the wall 22. Part of the gangue outlet 24 is also within the influence of the magnetic field so that fine tails discharged from this outlet into a dispensing trough 28 are resubjected to the action of the magnetic field to remove fine magnetics which still remain in the fine gangue. The fine tails gangue is transmitted to the gangue outlet 24 by a conduit 30 leading from a coarse tails chute 32 to such fine tails gangue outlet. t

The coarse tails chute 32 defines at its upper end a coarse tails outlet 34 of substantially 30 angular span Within the influence of the magnet field and positioned adjacent to the feed inlet 20. This outlet extends from a lip 36 at the left-hand end of inlet 20 to side dams 38 Thus as feed flows from the feed inlet 20 where it has been first subjected to the magnetic field it will at once reach the coarse tails outlet 34 and the coarse non-magnetics will pass through such outlet into. the chute 32 and slide by gravity out through an opening 40. Control of the discharge of the coarse tails is obtained in the usual manner by a valve (not shown).

' Such valve may be opened at intervals to allow coarse tails to be discharged. An important aspect of this invention is that the coarse tails in the feed are separated after a minimum amount of angular travel in the separator. This eliminates unnecessary Wear and quickly frees the feed for easier and more complete separation of the magnetics therein. Another important aspect of this invention is that the feed must pass through the coarse tailsoutlet'34 in order to reach the gangue outlet 24. This assures a higher elimination of coarse nonmagnetics.

The drum 10 moves the magnetics or concentrates to a concentrates discharge 42 at the right-hand end of the magnetic field above the hydrostatic level of the fine tails gangue outlet 24. As such concentrates are moved up beyond the influence of the magnetic field they will be thrown off the drum .10 and fall on a chute 44 for collection. I

Immediately below the concentrates discharge 42 there is provided a wash water inlet 46 through which fresh water is supplied to a concentrate treatment area 48 extending angularly from the dams 38 to such inlet a span of approximately 35. This cleans the concentrates being moved by the drum and carries the non-magnetic fines down into the coarse tail chute 32 where the flow of fresh water also entrains fines momentarily entrapped in the falling non-magnetic coarse tails. As the fiow of the wash Water joins with the flow from the feed inlet 20, both will be directed through the conduit 30 into the fine tails gangue outlet 24. 'Thus magnetics dropped in the concentrate treatrnent'a'rea 48 and coarse tails chute 32 will again be subjected to'the magnetic field and will be picked up by the drum 10 at a place'where such field is most effective. This high effectiveness exists at the fine tails gangue outlet because the magnetic field will not "be shunted'by a highconcentration of magnetics forming a magnetic path.

I claim:

1. In a magnetic separator, means providing a magnetic field of angular span, a carrier for moving magnetic material under influence of said magnetic field, a concentrates discharge at one end of said magnetic field, a fine tails gangue outlet at the ohter end of said field, a feed inlet for pulp of magnetics and non-magnetics in said magnetic field within the ends of said magnetic field, said feed inlet being below the level of said fine tails gangue outlet, and a coarse tails outlet within said magnetic field below and near said feed inlet said feed inlet.

being between said fine tails gangue outlet and said coarse tails outlet.

2. A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which the angular distance between adjacent ends of said feed inlet and said coarse tails outlet is not more than about one third of the angular span of said magnetic field.

3; A separator as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a conduit leading from said coarse tails outlet to said gangue outlet whereby feed from said inlet must pass through said coarse tails outlet before reaching said gangue outlet.

4. A separator as claimed in claim 3 in which there is a wash water inlet and concentrate treatment area adjacent said concentrates discharge leading to said coarse tails outlet whereby materials not picked up by said carrier are carried to said gangue outlet.

5. In a wet drum magnetic separator having a magnetic field, a submerged feed inlet within said field adjacent said drum, a coarse tails outlet within said field adjacent said feed inlet, a gangue outlet adjacent and hydrostatically above said feed inlet, a conduit between said coarse tails outlet and said gangue outlet, and a concentrates discharge on the opposite side of said drum from and hydrostatically above said gangue outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,394 Ohrn Jan. 11, 1910 2,675,918 Newton Apr. 20, 1954 2,747,735 Palm May 29, 1956 2,804,207 Newton Aug. 27, 1957 

